Slip Ring With High Data Rate Sensors

ABSTRACT

A pinless connector for subsea data communications comprises contactless connectivity data transmitter coupler, comprising one or more first solid state contactless connectivity data transmitters, and contactless connectivity data receiver coupler, comprising one or more first solid state contactless connectivity data receivers, which can allow for rapid collection and/or download data from subsea vehicles or sensors without having to plug in an external connector or physically remove the data recorder from the unit. Typically, these are operative at a low power level, e.g. less than or around 50 milliwatts, at an extremely high data transfer rate or around 5 GBits/second. The connectors may be incorporated into a subsea system comprising two subsea devices. A slip ring system may similarly comprise one or more first solid state contactless connectivity data transmitters and one or more first solid state contactless connectivity data receivers.

RELATIONSHIP TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application62/266,267 filed on Dec. 11, 2016.

BACKGROUND

Underwater vehicles can collect large amounts of data during the timethey are deployed. Download this data typically requires plugging in anexternal connector or the data recorder has to be removed and the datadownloaded elsewhere. Either approach can take a long time andnegatively impacts the available operational time. Further, wet mateunderwater connectors are expensive and prone to failure.

Moreover, underwater sensors that are not connected to a surfacerecorder or collector need to have their data downloaded. A remotelyoperated vehicle (ROV) or autonomously operated vehicle (AUV) can beused, but depending on the volume of data to be downloaded, it may takean inordinate amount of time. While a ROV is not powered limited, theAUV is battery powered and spending a long period of time downloadingdata has an impact on its operational time.

FIGURES

The various drawings supplied herein describe and are representative ofexemplary embodiments of the invention and are described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary connector;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary system;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first exemplary slip ring system; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second exemplary slip ring system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, in a first embodiment pinless connector 1 forsubsea data communications comprises contactless connectivity datatransmitter coupler 10 and contactless connectivity data receivercoupler 20 which can allow for rapid collection and/or download datafrom subsea vehicles or sensors without having to plug in an externalconnector or physically remove the data recorder from the unit.

Contactless connectivity data transmitter coupler 10 typically comprisesfirst environmentally sealed housing 11 which has no exposed metal.First solid state contactless connectivity data transmitter 14, whichmay be a transceiver, is typically at least partially disposed withinfirst environmentally sealed housing 11. Typically, first solid statecontactless connectivity data transmitter 14 is configured to beoperative at a low power level, e.g. less than or around 50 milliwatts,at an extremely high data transfer rate.

Contactless connectivity data receiver coupler 20 typically comprisessecond environmentally sealed housing 21 which has no exposed metal.First solid state contactless connectivity data receiver 24, which maybe a transceiver, is disposed at least partially within secondenvironmentally sealed housing 21 and is typically configured to beoperative at the low power level and at the extremely high data transferrate when the first solid state contactless connectivity datatransmitter is disposed proximate the first housing, typically at adistance of no more than around 1 meter from the first solid statecontactless connectivity data transmitter. Typically, however, firstenvironmentally sealed housing 11 and second environmentally sealedhousing 21 are in contact, although first solid state contactlessconnectivity data transmitter 14 and first solid state contactlessconnectivity data receiver 24 need not be.

First environmentally sealed housing 11 and second environmentallysealed housing 21 are configured for use subsea, which can include beingconfigured for use at depths of up to around 12000 feet or at full oceandepth, and each typically comprises a material suitable for use subsea,e.g. first environmentally sealed housing 11 comprises a first materialand second environmentally sealed housing 21 comprises a second materialwhich may be the same as the first material. The first and secondmaterials suitable for use subsea may comprise a plastic, rubber,ceramic, glass, or the like, or a combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, first solid state contactless connectivity datatransmitter 14 and first solid state contactless connectivity datareceiver 24 are adapted to exchange data using a point to point datacommunications pathway. Keyssa, Inc. of Campbell, Caifornia makesexemplary solid state contactless connectivity data transmitters andsolid state contactless connectivity data receivers. In mostconfigurations, first solid state contactless connectivity datatransmitter 14 and first solid state contactless connectivity datareceiver 24 are adapted to exchange data without requiring criticalalignment of first solid state contactless connectivity data transmitter14 with the first solid state contactless connectivity data receiver 24.

As used herein, the extremely high data transfer rate may be around 5Gbits/second.

In certain embodiments, first environmentally sealed housing 11 andsecond environmentally sealed housing 21 are configured to matecooperatively but do not have mate at all, i.e., in various embodimentsfirst solid state contactless connectivity data transmitter 14 and firstsolid state contactless connectivity data receiver 24 are operative totransfer data without being in physical contact with each other.However, in other contemplated embodiments first environmentally sealedhousing 11 and second environmentally sealed housing 21 are configuredto allow the first solid state contactless connectivity data transmitter14 and the first solid state contactless connectivity data receiver 24to come into physical contact with each other.

Referring additionally to FIG. 2, in certain embodiments, first solidstate contactless connectivity data transmitter 14 may comprise aplurality of first solid state contactless connectivity datatransmitters 14 a,14 b and/or first solid state contactless connectivityreceiver 24 may comprise a plurality of first solid state contactlessconnectivity receivers 24 a,24 b. Typically, the plurality of firstsolid state contactless connectivity receivers 24 a,24 b are operativelycoupled to corresponding first solid state contactless connectivity datatransmitters 14 a,14 b of the plurality of first solid state contactlessconnectivity data transmitters and do not required critical alignmentbetween the plurality of first solid state contactless connectivity datatransmitters 14 a,14 b and the first solid state contactlessconnectivity receivers 24 a,24 b. Use of a plurality of first solidstate contactless connectivity data transmitters 14 a,14 b and aplurality of first solid state contactless connectivity receivers 24a,24 b can allow data to be downloaded quicker by using multipletransmit/receive devices at the same time, either independently orcooperatively.

Referring still to FIG. 2, in a further embodiment a subsea systemcomprises first subsea device 100 and second subsea device 200. Thesedevices can include structures such as blowout preventers, manifolds,Christmas trees, remotely operated vehicles, autonomously operatedvehicles, or the like, or a combination thereof. Current subseaconnectors are expensive due to the high tolerance required to ensure awatertight seal and are also the primary source of equipment failure dueto water intrusion, misalignment, and the like.

First subsea device 100 comprises one or more first data collectors 12and contactless connectivity data transmitter coupler 10, which is asdescribed above.

Second subsea device 200 comprises contactless connectivity datareceiver coupler 20 which is as described above and which may beoperatively in communication with second data collector 22. As usedherein, a data collector may comprise a sensor, a data logger, otherelectrical and/or optic devices, or the like, or a combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, first electromagnetic inductive signaltransmitter 15, which may be a resonant electromagnetic inductive signaltransmitter, may be disposed at least partially within contactlessconnectivity data transmitter coupler 10 and a complimentary firstelectromagnetic inductive signal receiver 25, which may be a resonantelectromagnetic inductive signal receiver, may be disposed at leastpartially within contactless connectivity data receiver coupler 20.First electromagnetic inductive signal transmitter 15 and firstelectromagnetic inductive signal receiver 25 are typically operative tounidirectionally or bidirectionally transmit a signal such as a powersignal when contactless connectivity data transmitter coupler 10 isdisposed proximate contactless connectivity data receiver coupler 20. Itwill be understood by one or ordinary skill in electromechanical artsthat bidirectional transmission requires first electromagnetic inductivesignal transmitter 15 and first electromagnetic inductive signalreceiver 25 to effectively be electromagnetic inductive signaltransceivers.

Referring still to FIG. 2, current subsea fiber optic connectors arevery expensive due to the high tolerance required to ensure alignment ofthe fibers. Alignment of fibers is critical and any misalignment cancause failure or significantly lower the operating capacity of theconnector. These connectors have a limited number of mate and de-matecycles. In addition, current cables used in subsea applications can bemolded or pressure balanced oil filled (PBOF). Making each cable can betime consuming and expensive to ensure there is no water intrusion whensubmerged. Cables can deteriorate due to age, exceeding the bend radius,etc. causing equipment failures and requiring replacement which can becostly.

In a further embodiment, in addition to first subsea device 100 andsecond subsea device 200, which are as described above, the subseasystem may comprise one or more physical data pathways 30 which areoperatively disposed intermediate first solid state data transmitter 14and first solid state data receiver 24 where the one or more physicaldata pathways 30 are configured to provide a data communication pathbetween first solid state data transmitter 14 and first solid statecontactless connectivity receiver 24 at the extremely high data rate ata distance of no more than around one meter subsea.

Each physical data pathway 30 may comprise a subsea fiber optic pathway,a subsea copper pathway, a plastic cable configured to act as a waveguide for a high frequency radio frequency signal, or the like, or acombination thereof. Typically, cable 30, including plastic cable 30,acts as a wave guide for the high frequency RF signals being transmittedand may only need to be jacketed to prevent the RF signal from leakingoff or being interfered with by the environment.

If plastic cable 30 is used to transmit data signals, plastic cable 30may be used with one or more plastic connectors to provide a low costmethod for providing high speed data transmission from point to point.Plastic cable 30 may also be used to replace the fiber optic cable usedin umbilicals/tethers on subsea vehicles. If a plastic cable is used, ittypically comprises a jacket configured to prevent a radio frequencydata signal from leaking off or being interfered with by the subseaenvironment.

In embodiments, physical data pathway 30 is configured to provide a datacommunication path between first solid state data transmitter 14 a,14 band first solid state contactless connectivity receiver 24 a,24 bwithout requiring physical contact between physical data pathway 30 andat least one of first solid state data transmitter 14 a,14 b and firstsolid state contactless connectivity receiver 24 a,24 b. It isunderstood that first solid state data transmitter 14 a,14 b may be oneor more first solid state data transmitters 14 and first solid statecontactless connectivity receiver 24 a,24 b may be one or more firstsolid state contactless connectivity receivers 24 as described herein.

In embodiments, fiber optic connectors may be replaced with similarconnectors having the same advantages as copper based signal connector.These can further operate to eliminate fiber optic connections and lossissues. Additionally, 100% plastic wet cabling and connectors may be forcommunications, e.g. plastic core cable used as waveguide to carrysignal. Use of this technology and the connectors can allow use ofextremely fast data ports and provide for rapid downloading of data toor from AUVs and remote sensors.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in a further embodiment slip ring system300 comprises one or more first solid state contactless connectivitytransmitters 214 mounted to or on one or more rotatable rings 322 andone or more non-contact stationary sensors, e.g. first solid statecontactless connectivity receivers 324. Slip rings, which are widelyused in numerous applications winches, cable reels, alternators, and thelike, are an electromechanical device that allows the transmission ofpower and electrical signals from a stationary structure to which astationary non-contact sensor may be fixed, to a rotating structure. Aslip ring typically consists of a stationary contact point that rubsagainst the outside diameter of a rotating metal ring. Also known asrotary joints, slip rings are used in any electromechanical system thatneeds to rotate while transmitting power or signals.

In embodiments fiber-optic slip rings may be replaced with slip ring 300which can provide a non-contact method to transmit data betweenstationary part 310 and moving part 320. By not having to use any directcontact method there are no parts to wear out which will greatly improvethe reliability and overall performance of the slip ring.

Typically, slip ring 322 is fabricated without any contact parts to failor wear out as well as the ability to rapidly transfer gigabyte amountsof data from an AUV or remote sensor in just seconds.

Each rotatable ring 320 typically comprises one or more sensor triggersand first solid state contactless connectivity transmitters 324, whichcan be transceivers, operatively coupled to one or more sensor triggersand configured to be operative at an extremely high data transfer rate.

Each non-contact stationary sensor can comprise one or more first solidstate contactless connectivity receivers 324 which are typicallyresponsive to one or more sensor triggers 312 and disposed at apredetermined position proximate an outside diameter of rotatable ring320. A non-contact stationary sensor comprises one or more first solidstate contactless connectivity receivers 324 configured to exchangedata, either uni- or bidirectionally, with one or more first solid statecontactless connectivity transmitters 314 at a low power level,typically less than or around 50 milliwatts, at the extremely high datatransfer rate when disposed proximate to first solid state contactlessconnectivity transmitter 314 without the first solid state contactlessconnectivity transmitter having to physically contact the first solidstate contactless connectivity receiver. As illustrated in FIG. 4, aplurality of first solid state contactless connectivity transmitters 314may be disposed about shaft 320 and associated with one or morestationary mounted first solid state contactless connectivity receivers324.

In the operation of exemplary embodiments, referring generally to FIG.2, data may be obtained from one or more subsea data collector bydisposing first subsea device 100 and second subsea device 200 subsea,where each is as described above. First subsea device 100 and secondsubsea device 200 are maneuvered into a position closely proximate eachother subsea and contactless connectivity data transmitter coupler 10positioned proximate contactless connectivity data receiver coupler 20at a separation distance of not more than around one meter subsea. Whenpositioned, first environmentally sealed housing 11 may be selectivelyand cooperatively mated with second environmentally sealed housing 21,but need not be. Typically, data may be exchanged between first solidstate contactless connectivity transmitter 14 and first solid statecontactless connectivity receiver 24 without requiring physical contactbetween first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter 14 andfirst solid state contactless connectivity receiver 24. However, incontemplated embodiments first solid state contactless connectivitytransmitter 14 and first solid state contactless connectivity receiver24 may be placed into physical contact.

Once positioned, first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter14 and first solid state contactless connectivity receiver 14 are usedto communicate data at the extremely high data transfer rate, such as byusing a point to point data communication pathway which can include aphysical pathway such as physical data pathway 30.

As described above, first solid state contactless connectivity datatransmitter 14 may comprise a plurality of first solid state contactlessconnectivity data transmitters 14 a,14 b (FIG. 2) and first solid statecontactless connectivity receiver may comprise a plurality of solidstate contactless connectivity receivers 24 a,24 b (FIG. 2). In theseembodiments, once positioned the plurality of solid state contactlessconnectivity receivers 24 a,24 b may be operatively coupled tocorresponding ones of the plurality of first solid state contactlessconnectivity data transmitters 14 a,14 b. The plurality of first solidstate contactless connectivity data transmitters 14 a,14 b and theplurality of first solid state contactless connectivity receivers 24a,24 b may be used to unidirectionally or bidirectionally exchange data,whether synchronously or concurrently or independently, without a needfor critically aligning the plurality of first solid state contactlessconnectivity data transmitters 14 a,14 b and the plurality of firstsolid state contactless connectivity receivers 24 a,24 b. Datacommunication may comprise using an industry standard data exchangeprotocol such as at an extremely high frequency data rate of around 5Gbits/second.

In certain embodiments, first solid state contactless connectivitytransmitter 14 and first solid state contactless connectivity receiver34 are configured to connect automatically when they are in closeproximity to one another and to and disconnect when the separationdistance exceeds a maximum separation distance, e.g. more than aroundone meter.

Where first electromagnetic inductive signal transmitter 15 and firstelectromagnetic inductive signal receiver 25 are present, a signal suchas a power signal may be exchanged between first electromagneticinductive signal transmitter 15 and first electromagnetic inductivesignal receiver 25, either uni- or bi-directionally, when contactlessconnectivity data transmitter coupler 10 is disposed proximatecontactless connectivity data receiver coupler 20 at a separationdistance of not more than around one meter subsea.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a signal may be transmitted from arelatively stationary device, e.g. housing 310, to a rotating ring suchas slip ring 320, by disposing a rotatable ring, e.g. one or more firstsolid state contactless connectivity transmitters 314, on rotatablemember 320 such that rotation of rotatable member 320 creates acorresponding rotation of first solid state contactless connectivitytransmitters 324 operatively coupled to one or more sensor triggers 312and operative at an extremely high data transfer rate. Sensor trigger312 is as described herein and comprises one or more first solid statecontactless connectivity transmitters 324 at a predetermined relativelystationary position proximate an outside diameter of rotatable shaft320. First solid state contactless connectivity transmitter 314 andfirst solid state contactless connectivity receiver 324 are used totransmit a signal such as a data signal between the non-contact sensorand rotatable ring using a point-to-point connection at the extremelyhigh data transfer rate, e.g. around 5 GBits per second, without firstsolid state contactless connectivity transmitter 314 having tophysically contact first solid state contactless connectivity receiver324. Transmission of the signal may comprise using an industry standarddata exchange protocol.

In embodiments, first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter314 and first solid state contactless connectivity receiver 324 connectand disconnect automatically when they are in close proximity to oneanother.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials,and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustratedabove in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scopeof the invention as recited in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A slip ring system, comprising: a. a rotatablering comprising: i. a sensor trigger; and ii. a first solid statecontactless connectivity transmitter operatively coupled to the sensortrigger and configured to be operative at an extremely high datatransfer rate; and b. a non-contact stationary sensor responsive to thesensor trigger and disposed at a predetermined position proximate anoutside diameter of the rotatable ring, the non-contact stationarysensor comprising a first solid state contactless connectivity receiverconfigured to exchange data with the first solid state contactlessconnectivity transmitter at a low power level at the extremely high datatransfer rate when disposed proximate to the first solid statecontactless connectivity transmitter.
 2. The slip ring system if claim1, wherein the rotatable ring comprises a plurality of rotatable rings,each rotatable ring comprising: i. a sensor trigger; and ii. a firstsolid state contactless connectivity transmitter operatively coupled tothe sensor trigger and configured to be operative at an extremely highdata transfer rate.
 3. The slip ring system if claim 1, wherein thenon-contact stationary sensor comprises a plurality of non-contactstationary sensors.
 4. The slip ring system of claim 1, wherein: a. thefirst solid state contactless connectivity transmitter comprises a firstsolid state contactless connectivity transceiver; and b. the first solidstate contactless connectivity receiver comprises a second solid statecontactless connectivity transceiver.
 5. The slip ring system of claim1, wherein the lower power level is less than or around 50 milliwatts.6. The slip ring system of claim 1, wherein data are transmitted withoutthe first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter having tophysically contact the first solid state contactless connectivityreceiver.
 7. A method of transmitting a signal from a relativelystationary device to a rotating ring, comprising: a. disposing arotatable ring on a rotatable member of a relatively stationary devicesuch that rotation of the rotatable member creates a correspondingrotation of the rotatable ring, the rotatable ring comprising a firstsolid state contactless connectivity transmitter operatively coupled toa sensor trigger and operative at an extremely high data transfer rate;b. disposing a non-contact sensor at a predetermined relativelystationary position proximate an outside diameter of the rotatablemember, the non-contact sensor comprising a first solid statecontactless connectivity receiver configured to exchange data with thefirst solid state contactless connectivity transmitter at a low powerlevel at the extremely high data transfer rate when disposed proximateto the first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter; and c.using the first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter and thefirst solid state contactless connectivity receiver to transmit a signalfrom the sensor trigger between the non-contact sensor and rotatablering using a point-to-point connection at the extremely high datatransfer rate without the first solid state contactless connectivitytransmitter having to physically contact the first solid statecontactless connectivity receiver.
 8. The method of method oftransmitting a signal from a relatively stationary device to a rotatingring of claim 7, further comprising fixing the stationary non-contactsensor to a structure.
 9. The method of method of transmitting a signalfrom a relatively stationary device to a rotating ring of claim 7,wherein transmission of the signal from the sensor trigger between thenon-contact sensor and rotatable ring comprises an industry standarddata exchange protocol.
 10. The method of method of transmitting asignal from a relatively stationary device to a rotating ring of claim7, wherein the extremely high data transfer rate is around 5 GBits persecond.
 11. The method of method of transmitting a signal from arelatively stationary device to a rotating ring of claim 7, wherein thefirst solid state contactless connectivity transmitter and the firstsolid state contactless connectivity receiver connect and disconnectautomatically when they are in close proximity to one another.
 12. Themethod of method of transmitting a signal from a relatively stationarydevice to a rotating ring of claim 7, wherein the low power level isless than or around 50 milliwatts.